Daily Devotionals

Bowen's Daily Meditations

Devotional: April 3rd

" He shall feed his flock like a shepherd." ― Isaiah 40:11.

Who is this that spends his time with a company of poor despised sheep, seeking for them appropriate pastures, leading them beside still waters, defending them from evil beasts with his crook, carrying the lame ones in his bosom, studying all the peculiarities in the condition of each; apparently wrapped up in them, with no wisdom, no power, no resources save such as are needed for their welfare? Why! this is He that measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, meted out heaven with his span, and weighed the mountains in scales; who taketh up the isles as a very little thing; to whom the nations are counted as less than nothing and vanity. This is the Omnipotent one at whose fiat the universe sprang into existence, before whose great white throne the heaven and the earth shall flee away, and find no place.

And who are the flock that so possess his regard?

These are they that formerly refused to have a divine shepherd, and boasting in their own wisdom and power, surrendered themselves to sin, that disguised wolf, and followed him to his lair. But they were remembered by him whom they had scorned and insulted, and snatched from a frightful fate by the good shepherd, who gave his life for them and took it again that he might lead them into ever-verdant pastures.

Like a shepherd. A shepherd and his flock constitute a unity; the one is not found without the other. The interests of the flock are those of the shepherd. Their wisdom is in him. They take no thought for the morrow; he taketh it. They are not anxious about nourishment or protection; he watches for their welfare. He knows them; knows their need, their ignorance, their wandering: and they know him; know his faithfulness and his all-sufficiency.

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